Japan’s space agency successfully launched its most powerful flagship H3 rocket, which is carrying a newly developed unmanned cargo spacecraft for its inaugural mission to supply the International Space Station. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency announced that the HTV-X1 spacecraft successfully lifted off from Japan’s Tanegashima Space Center, located in the southern part of the country, atop the No. 7 H3 rocket, and confirmed that it entered the designated orbit 14 minutes post-liftoff. According to JAXA, the spacecraft was separated and positioned into its planned orbit. If all proceeds as expected, it should reach the ISS to deliver its supplies.
Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, who is currently aboard the ISS, is scheduled to capture the craft using a robotic arm. The HTV-X serves as the successor to JAXA’s unmanned H-II Transfer Vehicle, known as Kounotori, which translates to ‘stork’ in Japanese, and which successfully completed nine missions to the ISS from 2009 to 2020.
The newly developed freighter is capable of transporting a larger payload and providing power during flight, which facilitates the transportation of laboratory samples that necessitate low-temperature storage.
The HTV-X is engineered to connect with the International Space Station (ISS) for a duration of up to six months, allowing for the delivery of supplies and the collection of waste from the ISS. Following this, it will undertake technical missions while performing an orbital flight for an additional three months after departing from the station.
The launch also signifies a successful introduction of the most powerful variant of the H3 rocket, which features four boosters and an enlarged fairing, along with a top compartment designated for payloads, as stated by officials. JAXA President Hiroshi Yamakawa referred to the launch as “a significant advancement” that showcased Japan’s ability to transport supplies to space, which he described as “the foundation of autonomous space operations.”
Iwao Igarashi, who leads the Space Business Department at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and is responsible for the development of the H3 in collaboration with JAXA and the management of rocket launches, remarked that Japan’s history of punctual launches and precision in payload delivery, combined with the newly enhanced rocket, demonstrates their capacity to meet a variety of customer requirements. He also mentioned that his company intends to broaden its launch facilities.
The H3 rocket takes the place of Japan’s cherished H-2A rocket, which completed its last flight in June. This new flagship model is intended to be more cost-effective in the international space market. To date, the H3 has achieved six consecutive successful flights following a failed inaugural attempt in 2023, during which the rocket was destroyed along with its payload. Japan considers a reliable and commercially viable space transportation capability essential for its space program and national security.
